G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce GTX 260 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce GTX 260 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce GTX 260

2008

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 896 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2008 hardware with 896 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
165.7% HIGHER MSRP
$449 MSRPvs$169 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅394.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $280 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Delivers 2279.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅585.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 896 MB).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 394.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 795.8% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 1,200), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 6 GB vs 896 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 65nm, and 18 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $280 cheaper on MSRP at $169 vs $449, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 2279.8% (63.6 vs 2.7), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 260 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce GTX 260

The GeForce GTX 260 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 16 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 576 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 182W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,200 points. Launch price was $449.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 2 2024. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1042 MHz to 1470 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 18 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,749 points. Launch price was $179.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 260 scores 1,200 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 10,749 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 795.8%. The GeForce GTX 260 is built on Tesla 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB uses Ampere, both on 65 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 192 (GeForce GTX 260) vs 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Raw compute: 0.4769 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 260) vs 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 260	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
G3D Mark Score	1,200	10,749+796%
Architecture	Tesla 2.0	Ampere
Process Node	65 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	192	2304+1100%
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.4769 TFLOPS	6.774 TFLOPS+1320%
ROPs	28	32+14%
TMUs	64	72+13%
L2 Cache	0.22 MB	2 MB+809%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 260 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 260	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 260 has 896 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB carries 6 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 585.7% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 260 and 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. L2 Cache: 0.22 MB (GeForce GTX 260) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 260	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
VRAM Capacity	0.875 GB	6 GB+586%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	168 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit+33%	96-bit
L2 Cache	0.22 MB	2 MB+809%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 10_0 (GeForce GTX 260) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 260	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
DirectX	10_0	12 Ultimate+20%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st Gen (GeForce GTX 260) vs NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Decoder: NVDEC 1st Gen vs NVDEC (7th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264 (GeForce GTX 260) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 260	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Encoder	NVENC 1st Gen	NVENC (5th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC 1st Gen	NVDEC (7th Gen)
Codecs	H.264	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 260 draws 182W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 70W — a 88.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 260) vs 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs None. Card length: 267mm vs 160mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 260	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
TDP	182W	70W-62%
Recommended PSU	500W	300W-40%
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	None
Length	267mm	160mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	6.6	153.6+2227%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 260 came in at $449, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 62.4% cheaper ($280 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 2.7 (GeForce GTX 260) vs 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 2255.6% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2008).

Feature	GeForce GTX 260	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
MSRP	$449	$169-62%
Performance per Dollar	2.7	63.6+2256%
Codename	GT200	GA107
Release	June 16 2008	February 2 2024
Ranking	#821	#252

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